“I am very concerned that yet another housing development is being looked at on the green fields that surround our town. Only a few months ago, Blackburn council had plans for 500 new houses on Bailey’s Field – now it’s another 100 off Cranberry Lane.

“Darwen is a special place and this is too much development in the wrong place. There are plenty of other sites, including the derelict McInerney Homes site in the centre of town, the former Carus Mill site, as well as other former industrial sites in Blackburn and Darwen that would be more suitable for new houses.

“The Government has given local council’s more say about where new houses should go, however Labour-run Blackburn council seem to want to build them all in the fields around Darwen!

“I’ve set up a quick survey to let local people have their say about this development and I have also contact Bloor Homes, asking to meet with them as a matter of urgency – I will be very happy to pass on the views of my constituents to them personally.”